The Wingcarribee Animal Shelter is once again packed to the rafters with unwanted pooches and pussies following a dumping deluge during the Christmas period.

Shelter manager Skye Druery said the numbers of animals to inundate the pound this Christmas were marginally up on last year.

"It's up on last year but it's what we expected because it's always like this during a holiday period," Ms Druery said.

"We are packed with dogs and no-one is taking any animals away because they are on holidays."

Ms Druery said the pound currently had 38 dogs, 15 cats and 20 kittens, which included a dog named Rusty who had been at the shelter since May.

She said one reason why they had so many animals was because most people were away and had not come to collect their pets.

"It will take a bit longer to get all the dogs home," she said.

"We have all these new animals who have joined all the old ones.

"And it's a shame because they are all beautiful dogs - we just need to find them the right home."

Ms Druery urged Southern Highland residents to come in and collect their pets as soon as possible.

Anyone interested in buying a new dog or cat should drop into the shelter located at the rear of the Resource Recovery Centre in Moss Vale.

For more information contact Ms Druery or the shelter team on 4868 1520.